Becoming a Digital Nomad

It is probably pretty safe to assume that you have at least heard the term “Digital Nomad” before. But if not, here is a brief description:

A digital nomad is someone that is not tethered solely to a desk in an office building; he or she is able to work remotely from anywhere they wish, and they regularly move from workspace to workspace depending on both the needs of their current job or project and on the locations that inspire them to live their best life and do their best work.

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Living and working from places that both inspire and delight you. This could be your home office, your kitchen table, the coffee shop down the street, or even another country or city whenever the mood strikes you.

Contrary to what many people think, a remote work situation is not just for those fresh out of college, or single, or looking to re-invent themselves. Digital nomads can be people with families, people that own small or large businesses, and even retirees that love to travel and love dabbling in part-time or full-time work even though they don’t necessarily need the income.

Also known as telecommuters, digital nomads are people that have created freedom to work remotely. They can still hold down a desk space at their employer’s brick and mortar location, or they can be completely steeped in a work-from-home scenario. Digital nomads can also be business owners or freelancers.

So How Do You Decide If This Lifestyle Is Right For You?

This is a loaded question…and the answer will be dependent on several key factors that you will need to mull over with care. While there are several different and unique things to consider based on whether you are a business owner, an employee, an entrepreneur, or a freelancer, there are also many overlapping factors that apply universally, too.

Below are some of the largest deciding factors that you will need to take into consideration as you think about becoming a digital nomad. If any others come to mind as you are working through your responses to each factor, add them into your decision-making process too.

1. Finances
2. Family
3. Career/Industry
4. Skill Set
5. Character Traits
6. Dreams/Goals

For me, there were definitely a few factors that took me a long time to sort out. Family and finances were the biggest hurdles…I worried that shifting to a remote, non-traditional work setup would make it harder to earn income and would put added stress on my growing family.

But as I found out – that perspective was dead wrong.

Working remotely has made it better for my family, not worse. And it has opened up doors to financial freedom that I never thought existed. Granted, for me, deciding to become a digital nomad was not an all-access pass to a life of ease and wealth. When I worked, I worked hard; especially in the beginning phases when I was figuring everything out. The cool thing is, though, that as I have learned how to leverage my time and to make my job work for me and not the other way around, I have found myself enjoying more of a “work hard, play often” lifestyle - which I am guessing is exactly what you are hoping for as well.

So now to the big question:

Is A Digital Nomad Lifestyle The Right Choice For You?

(I will let you in on a secret - this lifestyle is for pretty much anyone and everyone!)

 Based on my personal experience, and the experiences of tons of remote workers that I know, I would say:

• If you are financially stable or have financial flexibility (i.e. you rent instead of own your home, or you could easily downsize toys and vehicles, etc. if needed), then diving headfirst into a remote work scenario could work really well for you.
• If you are deep in debt or are currently living month to month with no end in sight, then I would take an 80/20 approach - spend 80% of your time doing business as usual, and try out 20% of your time from a telecommute or digital nomad position. This is especially true if a component of your desired digital nomad lifestyle involves starting a business or beginning to freelance. Once you have success in that 20% start building toward a higher percentage.
• If your family could easily adapt to a travel-based lifestyle, or if you can easily start working from home without a ton of interruptions, then you would probably be able to find immediate success as a digital nomad.
• If you have, say, a newborn baby or have been working through medical issues, you might want to hold off on any major career shifts or adjustments until things settle back down. There can be a learning/adjustment curve with remote work, and if you try to juggle that with a home life that is already in upheaval you may regret it. It is best to give yourself the freedom to try it out here and there and then step into a more permanent remote work option once you have a better handle on things at home.
• If you are in a profession that requires hands-on work (i.e. if you are a welder or a massage therapist or a surgeon) you are probably not going to be able to do that same job while working remotely. That is not to say you can’t find ways to adjust your schedule to maximize your location-based freedom. You could consider getting a massage license in multiple states so you can travel AND work; you could take on patient consults via Skype so you could schedule all of them for one day per week and do so remotely. The options are endless.
• If you are used to working solo or if you are great at computer stuff, or if you are good at multitasking, then you could probably kick butt as a digital nomad.
• If you struggle with personal discipline or with taking initiative, or if you have no idea what the “cloud” is or how to “use it” - you might want to stick with working in an office surrounded by peers that offer accountability and dependability.
• If you dream of living and working somewhere you love, or if traveling abroad is a life goal, or if you just want more time with your family - then you might just have the inner drive to succeed as a digital nomad.

If you have any questions you would like to ask me directly, shoot me an email – I would love to talk with you more about how to become a digital nomad!